Page 3928 - Week 11 - Tuesday, 15 Sept 2009

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homeownership more affordable. This bill provides the necessary legislative amendments for the continued administration of the boost, and I thank members for their support of the bill.

Question resolved in the affirmative.

Bill agreed to in principle.

Leave granted to dispense with the detail stage.

Bill agreed to.

Planning and Development Amendment Bill 2009

Debate resumed from 27 August 2009, on motion by Mr Barr:

That this bill be agreed to in principle.

MR SMYTH (Brindabella) (11.04): I rise to speak on the Planning and Development Amendment Bill 2009, which, as stated in the explanatory statement, will amend the Planning and Development Act 2007 and the Planning and Development Regulation 2008, to pick up modifications to the act that have been made by regulation since March 2008, when the act commenced.

The Liberal Party will be supporting this bill, as I note that the amendments to the bill are mainly technical in nature. These modifications do not include those regulations which were transitional in nature after the act commenced and which are no longer required.

According to the explanatory statement, the bill includes modifications to the act including the following:

lease variations in designated areas and conversion of Commonwealth leases of National land to territory leases upon revocation of National Land status;

development assessment processes including transitional provisions;

use as development;

granting of leases and payment; and

extension of time to commence or complete building and development.

This bill will clarify the act and correct some inconsistencies within the act which, according to the explanatory statement, have come about through different drafting styles. The changes will ultimately assist industry and community members to have a better understanding of the act, and I note that industry groups are supportive of this bill.

The Canberra Liberals have always believed in improving the planning system and recognise the need for it to be unclogged. To that end, we are supportive of changes which make planning legislation as clear and concise as possible.


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